Discovery Velocity is a Canadian discretionary specialty channel owned by 2953285 Canada Inc., a joint venture between CTV Specialty Television Inc. (consisting of Bell Media & ESPN Inc. that owns 80%) and Warner Bros. Discovery (which owns the remaining 20%). It is a Canadian version of the U.S. channel formerly of the same name (now known as Motor Trend), and broadcasts factual and reality-style series related to automobiles and transportation (including series from Discovery's library).
 | |
| Country | Canada |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | National |
| Headquarters | 9 Channel Nine Court, Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario |
| Programming | |
| Picture format | 1080i (HDTV) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | 2953285 Canada Inc. (CTV Specialty Television, Inc. (Bell Media-ESPN Inc. (80% and managing partner) Warner Bros. Discovery (20%)) |
| Sister channels | Animal Planet Canal D Discovery Channel Discovery Science Investigation Discovery |
| History | |
| Launched | December 19, 2005 |
| Former names | Discovery HD Theatre (2005-2009) Discovery HD (2009-2010) Discovery World HD (2010-2012) Discovery World (2012-2015) |
| Links | |
| Website | Discovery Velocity |
This channel was founded on December 19, 2005 as Discovery HD Theatre (a Canadian spelling of HD Theater) by Bell Globemedia and Discovery Communications. Two years after the U.S. counterpart was rebranded to HD Theater, it was renamed to Discovery HD in 2009 but did not follow the U.S. counterpart's rebrand in 2011, but was instead renamed aagin to Discovery World HD in 2010 but the HD name was dropped in 2012 before finally rebranded to its current name in 2015.
Bell Media will lose the rights to the Discovery Velocity brand and Motor Trend programming at the end of 2024, but the channel will maintain a similar programming theme as CTV Speed Channel starting January 1, 2025. Rogers Sports & Media will take over the Canadian rights to Motor Trend programming, primarily distributing it through its streaming and on-demand platforms.
History
editBeginning in August 2003, CTV had operated a channel known as Discovery Channel HD, which served as a high-definition simulcast of the main Discovery Channel lineup, where applicable. In August 2005, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) approved an application for a new category 2 digital service, Discovery HD Theatre (based on the U.S. channel of the same name), covering many of the same genres as Discovery Channel, but with a separate lineup consisting exclusively of high definition programming.[1] Discovery HD Theatre replaced Discovery Channel HD on December 19, 2005. While maintaining the same format, the channel was renamed Discovery HD in 2009.
In June 2010, CTVglobemedia announced that it would launch three new Discovery-branded channels in Canada, among them included a re-branding of Discovery HD as Discovery World HD (later just Discovery World) on August 2, 2010, with a new lineup aiming to "showcase a beautiful and brilliant portrait of our world in vivid high definition".[2] A separate HD simulcast of Discovery Channel returned in June 2011.[3]
In January 2015, Bell Media announced that Discovery World would be re-branded as Discovery Velocity on February 12, 2015. It is a Canadian version of the U.S. channel Velocity—which was the current format of the network's original U.S. counterpart. With the re-branding, the network increased its focus on automotive-oriented series, although selected non-automotive programs from Discovery World were carried over.[4]
On June 10, 2024, Rogers Sports & Media announced it had reached an agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) for Canadian rights to its lifestyle brands beginning in January 2025, which were subsequently confirmed to include Discovery Velocity / Motor Trend.[5][6] This led to a lawsuit by Bell, which claimed the move would violate previous non-compete clauses with WBD; the matter was settled out of court in October.[7][8] Rogers announced that Motor Trend content would move to its on-demand and streaming platforms including Citytv+, rather than a new linear channel.[9]
On October 17, 2024, Bell Media announced the channel would rebrand as CTV Speed Channel on January 1, 2025, and would continue to feature programming "for automotive and thrill-seeking enthusiasts".[10]
See also
edit- Discovery Turbo
- Discovery HD (International)
References
edit- ^ Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2005-519, CRTC, 21 October 2005
- ^ Discovery to Launch Three New Channel Brands In Canada Archived July 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Discovery Channel and Bell Media Factual Networks Announce Fall 2011 "Must See" Highlights Archived 2011-06-29 at the Wayback Machine CNW 2011-06-17
- ^ "High Stakes Adventure, Precision Machines, Raw Power: Specialty Service Discovery Velocity Launches February 12". Press release. Retrieved 20 January 2015.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Thiessen, Connie (June 10, 2024). "Rogers scoops Warner Bros. Discovery rights from Corus and Bell". Broadcast Dialogue. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
- ^ "Rogers announces licensing deals with NBCUniversal and Warner Bros. Discovery". CityNews.ca. June 10, 2024. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
- ^ Thiessen, Connie (June 28, 2024). "Bell files injunction against Rogers in Warner Bros. Discovery content battle". Broadcast Dialogue. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
- ^ Whittock, Jesse (2024-10-08). "Bell Expands Warner Bros Discovery Pact For HBO & Max Content And Ends Legal Action Over Rogers Deal". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
- ^ Thiessen, Connie (August 28, 2024). "Rogers outlines plans to launch new channels". Broadcast Dialogue. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
- ^ Bell Media (October 17, 2024). "Bell Media Brings Powerhouse Brands USA Network and Oxygen True Crime to Canada" (Press release). Retrieved October 17, 2024.